residents feel “infringed and overrun” THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN 8 OCTOBER 2013 VOLUME 72: EDITION 12 varsitynewspaper.co.za @varsitynews varsitynewspaper IN THIS ISSUE VARSITY, the official student newspaper since 1942, is committed to the principles of equality and democracy. First year spread PAGE 11 Biko memorial PAGE 2 SINCE 1942 Hannah Gauss A t the end of September, a petition draſted by the Liesbeeck Gardens Committee and Residence students called for the immediate replacement of the residence’s acting Warden Dr Tiriyanhu Chinyoka. e petition regards allegations made against Dr Chinyoka in which students expressed their concerns regarding the implementation of overly harsh disciplinary decisions, new rules such as the overnight visitors’ application process, the tragic loss of a student, and Dr Chinyoka’s behaviour towards students. Zanthemba Eleni, Safety and Security House Committee member from 2011, explains: “You will have to write a motivation letter why you want to have that visitor. [In the letter you need to state] what you are going to do in your room as visitors, even if it’s family.” “e allegations are very serious, such as the Acting Warden cursing to the students, or in many ways the Acting Warden making dictatorial decisions inside the residences,” states Jarred Devar, SRC Residence Coordinator. roughout the year, Liesbeeck students and House Committee members forwarded multiple complaints to Devar. “e majority of cases coming in from Liesbeeck were DC [disciplinary court] cases,” Devar explains. e petition was draſted by students protesting the harsh implementation of new rules and disciplinary consequences by Dr Chinyoka. “ose particular [new] rules were implemented particularly harshly, I reflected that in my reports about certain DC cases,” says Devar. “I think in many ways it is the warden’s responsibility to engage with the nature and culture of a residence. at might be where the role of the Acting Warden has fallen a bit short.” “We want him to be replaced. We want a more permanent warden for the residence, someone who will understand the dynamics of students,” says Nonina Maranjana, former head-student of Liesbeeck House Committee. “ere must be some kind of accountability for wardens, like an evaluation system.” “We were told as House Committee that we could not call meetings with the Acting Warden because we did not have a head student – our head student leſt in June because she was done with school,” said Maranjana. Students living in the residence expressed a negative change in Liesbeeck. “e first two years it felt like a place you can call home. ere was peace and Ubuntu,” says Zanthemba Eleni, former Safety and Security House Committee member in 2011. She says it is now a place where residents feel “infringed and overrun”. Residence students complained about a lack of interaction between residence management and residing students. “ey feel that Dr Tiri doesn’t listen to what they say Liesbeeck petition for Warden’s removal anymore,” says Eleni. Liesbeeck Gardens has a negative reputation on campus. “It is the worst self-catering res, you can’t even shower [and] the shops are far away,” explains Damian Smith, Actuarial Science student. For the 2014 residence allocation, several students stated they declined the offer for a residence place in Liesbeeck Gardens. Student Arthur Kyara comments: “I got an offer for Liesbeeck, but I didn’t want to go so I dropped it and changed with someone.” Additionally, students currently living in Liesbeeck are moving out of the residence. According to Eleni, “roughout the year students have been moving out, doing res swaps and living on their own, because Liesbeeck has become the place where they can’t take it anymore.” Aſter the petition was granted by the SRC, house members distributed the petition in Liesbeeck in order to gain support. Within days, Dr Chinyako sent an email to all residence members stating: “UCT residence system does not allow door-to-door campaigning of any sort of any reason in the residences unless possibly authorised by the warden.” e mail furthermore contained, “If the violators are SRC candidates then the wardens will naturally have to also report them to the CEO of the SRC’s IEC [Independent Electoral Commission].” e Acting Executive Director of the Department of Student Affairs, the Director of Student Housing and Residence Life, as well as Dr Chinyoka refrained from commenting on the situation. Acting Executive Director of the Department of Student Affairs, Dr Ian Mackintosh, explained that students are “welcome to suggest amendments to the rules and policies governing residence life; such an amendment must be passed by Senate to take effect. Residence staff do not have the authority to establish or implement new rules.” He continued, “ere is also a system in place for residents to bring their concerns to the attention of the Student Housing office.” LIESBEECK GARDENS: Protests the implementation of new rules and disciplinary conseqeunces by acting Warden Dr Tiriyanhu Chinyoka. Image: flickr.com/dayzeelar
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residents feel “infringed and overrun”
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
8 OCTOBER 2013 VOLUME 72: EDITION 12 varsitynewspaper.co.za @varsitynews varsitynewspaper 12 varsitynewspaper.co.za @varsitynews varsitynewspaper
IN T
HIS
ISSU
E
VARSITY, the o� cial student newspaper since 1942, is committed to the principles of equality and democracy.
First year spread PAGE 11Biko memorial PAGE 2
SINCE
1942
Hannah Gauss
At the end of September, a petition dra� ed by the Liesbeeck
Gardens Committee and Residence students called for the immediate replacement of the residence’s acting Warden Dr Tiriyanhu Chinyoka.
� e petition regards allegations made against Dr Chinyoka in which students expressed their concerns regarding the implementation of overly harsh disciplinary decisions, new rules such as the overnight visitors’ application process, the tragic loss of a student, and Dr Chinyoka’s behaviour towards students.
Zanthemba Eleni, Safety and Security House Committee member from 2011, explains: “You will have to write a motivation letter why you want to have that visitor. [In the letter you need to state] what you are going to do in your room as visitors, even if it’s family.”
“� e allegations are very serious, such as the Acting Warden cursing to the students, or in many ways the Acting Warden making dictatorial decisions inside the residences,” states Jarred Devar, SRC Residence Coordinator.
� roughout the year, Liesbeeck students and House Committee members forwarded multiple complaints to Devar. “� e majority of cases coming in from Liesbeeck were DC [disciplinary court] cases,” Devar explains. � e petition was dra� ed by students protesting the harsh implementation of new rules and disciplinary consequences by Dr Chinyoka.
“� ose particular [new] rules were implemented particularly harshly, I re� ected that in my reports about certain DC cases,” says Devar. “I think in many ways it is the warden’s responsibility to engage with the nature and culture of a residence. � at might be where the role of the Acting Warden has fallen a bit short.”
“We want him to be replaced. We want a more permanent warden for the residence, someone who will understand the dynamics of students,” says Nonina Maranjana, former head-student of Liesbeeck House Committee. “� ere must be some kind of accountability for
wardens, like an evaluation system.” “We were told as House
Committee that we could not call meetings with the Acting Warden because we did not have a head student – our head student le� in June because she was done with school,” said Maranjana.
Students living in the residence expressed a negative change in Liesbeeck. “� e � rst two years it felt like a place you can call home. � ere was peace and Ubuntu,” says Zanthemba Eleni, former Safety and Security House Committee member in 2011. She says it is now a place where residents feel “infringed and overrun”.
Residence students complained about a lack of interaction between residence management and residing students. “� ey feel that Dr Tiri doesn’t listen to what they say
Liesbeeck petition for Warden’s removal
anymore,” says Eleni.Liesbeeck Gardens has a negative
reputation on campus. “It is the worst self-catering res, you can’t even shower [and] the shops are far away,” explains Damian Smith, Actuarial Science student.
For the 2014 residence allocation, several students stated they declined the o� er for a residence place in Liesbeeck Gardens. Student Arthur Kyara comments: “I got an o� er for Liesbeeck, but I didn’t want to go so I dropped it and changed with someone.”
Additionally, students currently living in Liesbeeck are moving out of the residence. According to Eleni, “� roughout the year students have been moving out, doing res swaps and living on their own, because Liesbeeck has become the place where they can’t take it anymore.”
A� er the petition was granted by the SRC, house members distributed the petition in Liesbeeck in order to gain support. Within days, Dr Chinyako sent an email to all residence members stating: “UCT residence system does not allow door-to-door campaigning of any sort of any reason in the residences unless possibly authorised by the warden.”
� e mail furthermore contained, “If the violators are SRC candidates then the wardens will naturally have to also report them to the CEO
of the SRC’s IEC [Independent Electoral Commission].”
� e Acting Executive Director of the Department of Student A� airs, the Director of Student Housing and Residence Life, as well as Dr Chinyoka refrained from commenting on the situation.
Acting Executive Director of the Department of Student A� airs, Dr Ian Mackintosh, explained that students are “welcome to suggest amendments to the rules and policies governing residence life; such an amendment must be passed by Senate to take e� ect. Residence sta� do not have the authority to establish or implement new rules.”
He continued, “� ere is also a system in place for residents to bring their concerns to the attention of the Student Housing o� ce.”
LIESBEECK GARDENS: Protests the implementation of new rules and disciplinary conseqeunces by acting Warden Dr Tiriyanhu Chinyoka.
Image: � ickr.com/dayzeelar
2 V72 E12 – 8 OCTOBER 2013 newsNEWS BITES
Opposition slams Zuma for signing e-tolls bill
JOHANNESBURG – Opposition parties have condemned President Zuma’s decision to sign the transport laws and related matters Amendment Act, paving the way for e-tolling to be passed into law. �e DA has labelled the signing of the bill as “an act of cowardice” as Zuma was out of the country the day the presidency announced this news.
- iol News
US congress shuts down
WASHINGTON – �e US government has been shut down since Monday, (September 30th) for the �rst time in nearly two decades a�er Congress failed to pass a budget due to the Republican’s stando� over President Obama’s health care law. Around 800 000 government workers are expected to be sent home, whilst millions are to work without receiving payment, until the crisis is resolved.
- The New York Times
42 students killed in Nigeria Attack
GUJBA, NIGERIA – Last Sunday, September 29th, 42 students were killed sleeping in a hostel at the Yobe State College of Agriculture in Nigeria. �e attack was carried out by Boko Haram. �e Islamic extremist group aims to impose Sharia law and establish an Islamic state in the North of Nigeria.
- Times Live
Poachers poison 91 elephants in Zimbabwe
HWANGE – Last week 91 elephants were poisoned with cyanide by poachers in the Hwange National Park in Western Zimbabwe. Cyanide, which is usually used in gold mining, had been spread over the �at salt pans around a remote water hole. �e poachers were targeting the elephant’s tusks.
- News24
Nepalese man claims to be world’s shortest person
KATHMANDU, NEPAL – Master Nau, a 73 year-old Nepalese man, claims to be the world’s shortest person, with a height of only 41cm. His bid to be recognised as the shortest man in the “immoveable category”, as he is con�ned to a wheelchair, is currently being processed by the Guinness World Record authorities.
- ENCA
Stefanie Busch
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PH: 021-685 5927
Cell: 079 183 9336
1st Floor, St Peter’s Square
Main Road, OBSERVATORY
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GENERAL DENTISTRY
MEDICAL AID ACCEPTED
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Stefanie Busch
On October 3rd, a mere few months before the 2014 national
elections ensue, the UCT SRC, in collaboration with InkuluFreeHeid (IFH), hosted the WhyVote2014 Soapbox event on UCT’s Jammie Plaza.
�e IFH is a non-partisan youth movement which is hoping to encourage a new era of youth activism with their “Our Vote Our Voice” campaign.
�e soapbox, labelled IFH, was placed on Jammie Plaza. Serving as a public platform, UCT students and selected speakers were invited to stand up and voice their opinions about voting. Students were urged to engage with the voting process in the coming elections.
Speakers included, amongst others, Lorne Hallendor�, Anton Taylor, Jonathan Singh, Chaeli
Mycro� and Dan Corder.Lorne Hallendor�, UCT SRC
President, sought to remind students that our history is �lled with people who have fought for each South African to have a right to vote, “�e very least we can do is ensure that
WhyVote2014 Soapbox: Urging UCT students to vote
their e�orts were not in vain.”A�er stressing that it is important
to vote in order to be able to hold one’s government accountable, Hallendor� concluded by reiterating that “to vote is not only a right, but also a privilege”.
Furthermore, Anton Taylor voiced his opinions with regards to
those that criticise the government, yet do not vote come election time. “If you can’t be bothered to stand in a queue to register or vote, you lose your right to complain,” stated Taylor.
“If I, the guy who organised 6x7s, can vote, so can you,” said Taylor, going on to encourage the UCT student body to make a change by
voting in the next elections.Lastly, Dan Corder, a member
of the IFH, stood on the soapbox to call upon students to register on November 9th and 10th.
“If you don’t vote, you essentially strip yourself of the power that was fought for by so many.” Corder concluded.
Sandile Tshabalala
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African
Union Commission, delivered the 14th Steve Biko Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, October 2nd, at Jameson Hall.
Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nhlapho, explained the great signi�cance of UCT and the Steve Biko Foundation collaborating to bring prominent speakers to keep Biko’s legacy of social justice alive.
Steve Biko Foundation CEO, Nkosinathi Biko, said that the annual lecture seeks to promote a culture of critical dialogue and active citizenry in South Africa.
Dlamini-Zuma opened the memorial lecture by describing how retelling the African story begins with “a decolonisation of the mind” as a key component of the struggle for dignity and freedom. �is was inspired by Steve Biko’s notion that “[t]he colonist turned to the past of the oppressed people and distorted, dis�gured and destroyed it”.
She indicated that for too long Africa has been de�ned as “the dark continent burdened with poverty, disease and poor governance”. Pan-Africanism saw Africans unite against slavery, colonialism, racial oppression and apartheid, hence African Renaissance aspires to a prosperous and united African society.
Africa’s immeasurable ancient civilisation contributed to human endeavour evident in our diverse “belief systems, languages and indigenous knowledge,” highlighted Dlamini-Zuma.
Dlamini-Zuma emphasised that, in order to develop peacefully, “Africa must take charge of its own development trajectory and promote regional integration and cooperation.”
She added, “�e development of our human capital is our precious resource; Africa must have a skills revolution in skilling millions of youth to take charge
Dr Dlamini-Zuma on Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance
of how we use and bene�ciate our resources, to build and maintain our infrastructure and deliver quality private and public service.”
Dlamini-Zuma advised, “Africa has to do more to unlock her vast potential: mobilisation and taking responsibility for making history will guide us to our destiny.” She also echoed that the creation of a “peaceful, people-centred and
prosperous Africa will be no easy road”.
Fadzia Chitiyo, a BSocSci student, asked how South Africa could use its economic growth to bene�t other African countries.
In response, Dlamini-Zuma stressed that it is vital for South Africa to “integrate and trade within the continent … [and to] match the needs of the continent with the skills it produces”.
Dlamini-Zuma concluded with the words of the previous speaker of the lecture, Ben Okri: “�ere is no such thing as a powerless people. �ere are only those who have not seen and have not used their power and will. It is only by establishing a common destiny and outlook that we can overcome and prosper.”
“If you don’t vote, you essentially strip yourself
of the power that was fought for by so many.”
Image: So�a Gilli
Image: Khanyisa Pinini
3V72 E12 – 8 OCTOBER 2013news
Aisha Abdool Karim
On September 21st, the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab
attacked the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya. � e Westgate Mall hostage siege ended on September 24th when Kenyan security forces intervened and a � re collapsed three � oors in the shopping centre. � e country went into national mourning following the four day siege to grieve the deaths of approximately 67 people, 170 injured and 39 missing.
Although the exact number of terrorists involved in the attack has yet to be determined, it is believed that � ve of the attackers were killed when Kenyan security forces intervened. President Uhuru Kenyatta believes that more attackers may be trapped within the rubble of the shopping centre. So far 12 suspects have been arrested.
In Kenyatta’s address to the country, he praised the civilian response to the tragedy. He said that six members of the Kenyan security force were among the dead citizens. Kenyan troops entered the mall directly a� er the attack ended on September 24th and began removing bodies from the wreckage.
� e Westgate shopping centre has been cordoned o� to prevent civilians from entering the area. Amongst dead civilians were 18 foreigners
Aftermath in Kenyafrom Britain, France, Canada, India, Ghana, South Africa and China.
Al-Shabaab, a Somalian militant group, has claimed that the attack on Kenya was an act of retaliation for Kenyan army operations in Southern Somalia. � e group had threatened to attack Kenya if the 4 000 troops currently stationed in Southern Somalia were not pulled out. Al-Shabaab is � ghting to create an Islamic state in Somalia and has repeatedly been linked to the terrorist group, al-Qaeda.
� e National Intelligence Service (NIS) were blamed for being unaware of the attack beforehand. On October 1st, however, Al Jazeera reporters uncovered that multiple senior o� cials, including four cabinet ministers and the Chief of Defence, had received an intelligence � le full of warnings regarding the attack.
One year ago, a report was received that Westgate shopping centre would be attacked. Politicians are claiming that the NIS failed to issue warnings about the situation and they were unaware of the high threat level. O� cials were briefed on the growing risk of attack on both September 13th and September 20th, a mere day before the attack.
� e implications of this attack could go further than just Kenya and other African countries also face a potential threat. In August this year, South Africa was on the brink of sending troops back into Somalia.
online this week
GALA EVENT: IkamvaYouth 10th anniversary celebration was held at the Mount Nelson Hotel on October 3rd. Guest speaker Trevor Manuel addressed the attendees on empowerment and the importance of education.Read more online at varsitynewspaper.co.za
Images: Khanyisa Pinini
4 V72 E12 – 8 OCTOBER 2013 editorial
Imaad IsaacsManaging Editor
Daniёl GledenhuysOnline Editor
TELEPHONE: 021-650 3543 Level 5, Steve Biko Students’
Union
Katy ScottDeputy Editor
University of Culling and Thriving
Jena AscoughCopy Editor
Paramedic for a day
ALT reality
Mindsets that matter
editor-in-chief Laurie Scarborough
deputy Editor Katy Scott
managing Editor Imaad Isaacs
online editor Daniël Geldenhuys
Copy Editor Jena Ascough
Online content editor Katelyn Mostert
news Hannah Gauss & Clare Garrard
opinions Parusha Naidoo & Vikash Gajjar [email protected]
features Lynne Marie Fraser & Busang
Senne [email protected]
sportS Megan Kinnaird & Mark Nandi [email protected]
centrespread Krysia Gaweda
images Sofia Gilli & Khanyisa Pinini
Design Zona Magadla
web Stephen Hulme
Marketing Chandra Mophethe
human resources Kudzai Tabaziba & Saadiq
CONTRIBUTORS
sub-editors Flavia Omran & Rhiannon Rees
Staff writers Sophie Robertson, Tendai
Madzikanda, Tayla-Paige van Sittert, Angela Kirykowicz,
Xabiso Nokoyo, Quentin Coetzee, Tyra Overmeyer, Ramabina
Mahapa, Ryan Bird, Ryno Nortje, Cassidy Nydahl, Joe Simon, Cai Nebe, Stefanie Busch & Sandile
Tshabalala
2014 Collective
Little trouble makers
Laurie ScarboroughEditor-in-Chief Editorial
As another VARSITY reign begins, I � nd myself wondering
what I can possibly bring to VARSITY that hasn’t already been brought. A� er the contributions of the 68 editors before me, what can I say here that will be original, catchy, controversial, interesting or memorable?
During the a� ermath of the Is love colour-blind? article, many professional journalists publically slated VARSITY. We felt that they weren’t invested in us. � ey had forgotten what student journalism is. We are learning; we are making mistakes; we are � ying a plane while we build it. But we are them, just 20 years behind.
However, recently I sat in a panel discussion and was reminded that professional journalists really do value student journalism. Yes, we may not be pros with years of experience and we will make mistakes, but we do have a voice. And because of VARSITY, we have a microphone.
It was made clear that even when you think that what you’re doing and saying now – as a 20-year-old third-year student with no degree and almost no Twitter followers – means nothing, it really doesn’t. Everything matters, it’s all relevant.
Something that almost every professional journalist who addressed us said was that student journalism has a place in society. We have a power that we may not realise, because we are able (in a way that
professional journalists aren’t) to report unbiasedly on society, while to some extent escaping the wrath of governmental legislation and professional codes of conducts.
Why not be a trouble-maker with a purpose? Why not stir the pot? If it’s in the public interest, why not create a platform for discourse? Now is the time. We’re at liberty to say what needs to be heard.
Student journalists are future professional journalists, editors, managers and change-makers. Stop wallowing in your apathy and do something. And if you can’t do anything about the problems you see in society, then report on them. Bring them into public light so someone else can do something. We all have a voice, so speak up.
Hi, my name is Katy and I am studying an odd assortment of subjects because somewhere along my academic career I confused my passions with percentages.
� at excellent mark for that obscure subject in high school deluded me into thinking that I had a desire to further my studies in it. � at course I did badly
in made me “realise” my interests lay elsewhere. I let my aptitude de� ne who I was and what I wanted to be. Nice to meet me? Nice to meet you too.
Without any meaning behind your studies, a bad set of marks can leave you empty. If you were to fail a Maths test at school, the next day you’d be driven back in a fresh uniform with a lunch packed and � nd yourself in Maths class again dealing with the circumstances.
Now, failure (however you choose to de� ne it) sends you so deep into disillusionment that you are unable to deal. With no coping mechanisms or structures in place, academic exclusion or self-harm become “options”.
At the University of Culling and � riving you are no more than a student number. Vula Gradebooks and stroppy tutors measure your worth. As exam time comes around and you’re gra� ing and grinding and going a little crazy, ask yourself, towards what end? Perhaps you too have lost heart when you made a decision to follow your brain.
By the end of the day, I was a nervous wreck; I had been invited to join my paramedic friends on one of their Friday night shi� s and my adrenaline had been pumping all day. When I arrived in Hout Bay that evening, and was being shown the relevant contraptions and what my duties as an observer were, I was in a complete state.
� en it came. Time to get into the ambulance and head o ! Trying, probably very badly, to hide my fear, I got in and buckled up – perhaps a little too tightly. When everyone was in, I asked (as nonchalantly as I could possibly manage) where we were going � rst. I prepared myself for the worst – a run-over pedestrian, a victim of gang violence, a shootout...
“We’re going for co ee.”So o we went. In the “ambo”. Me in
my sexy lumo orange observer’s vest and them in their blindingly yellow jackets. Going for co ee.
We did actually get some proper call-outs a� er that, but thankfully nothing too hectic. I was so impressed with these guys – their e� ciency and their professionalism, but most of all, their passion for helping people.
Now I see why paramedics are the unsung heroes of the medical community. I would encourage anyone to go on a ride-along – to go behind the scenes and see exactly how much they do in a shi� ... You know, when they’re not drinking co ee.
Paris Fashion Week along the Spring 2014 runway season wrapped up last week. Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel No.5 robot sculpture and the fountains, carousels and elevators that formed Marc Jacobs’ Louis Vuitton swan song runway got me thinking.
Now is the perfect time for a little (procrastination) � ction: what kind of over-the-top runway show would I produce if I were a designer? Here goes.
So I’m a hugely in� uential and respected fashion designer of German descent: my name is Daniël von Geldenhuys. My label, CLUTCH, shows at New York Fashion week because I’m a T-Shirt:
I heart New York. I’m known for my masterful balance of creative prints and minimal design – perfect for the modern Manhattan girl. But what will go down at my Fall 2014 runway show?
� e Brooklyn Bridge is where the fashion elite gather at twilight to watch my show. � is time, Anna Wintour sits with the complete Beckham family, making small talk with Harper about the relevance of sandals. Conversation is interrupted by a loud boom as Lady Gaga descends from the sky in a glass box held up by one of the 20 helicopters hovering above the bridge. � e others provide spotlights for the runway.
Gaga begins her set list as the � rst
look makes its way across the bridge. � e model is dressed in a brick-print cape and gravel-print ankle-skimming trousers. Her sunglasses are directly inspired by nuts and bolts. Her shoes are constructed in such a way that it looks like three thick slabs of concrete have been tied around her feet: too hectic for walking the bridge, you say? Well, the model isn’t walking. She stands on a podium with railing, reminiscent of a cherry picker, and is pulled along by a male model dressed only in pink � oral chi on shorts and a diamond ring.
I have inverted the gender roles! � e woman represents the builder, the worker – the nuts and bolts of society... (column continued online)
Sports Editor Deputy Design EditorAdvertising / Finance Manager
Deputy Advertising / Finance Manager
Deputy Web Editor OperationsManager
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Column online
The frequency of public protests has rendered
them docile
5V72 E12 – 8 OCTOBER 2013opinions
DisclaimerThe VARSITY Opinions section is a vehicle for expression on any topic by members of the university
community or other interested parties. The opinions within this section are not necessarily those of the VARSITY Collective or its advertisers.
Letters to the Editor need to be kept to a maximumof 300 words and can be sent to:
wParusha Naidoo
Opinions Editor
freedom of expression is a privilege and not a
right
Xabiso Nokoyo
Civil activism has gained much credibility in the past couple of years, reviving the idea that even the most autocratic of governments are subject to their people, and not the other way round. �e revolution seen in the mid-21st century period is not the same as those before it but its essence remains intact – the masses shall rise for a cause.
�e poor in South Africa have been doing just that, and they’ve been doing so rather consistently. It has become as expected as in�ation. �e cause for these protests has typically been the lack of municipal service delivery, shortage of housing and employee compensation.
Although most of these demonstrations have been local, they are caused by the plight of the poor. �e income gap in South Africa is one of the highest in the world, and in the past decade or so of democracy, it has widened. We are more economically divided as a society than ever before. We would be foolish not to acknowledge the ever present racial divisions among us.
�ese divisions are the �rst blows to the predicament of the poor in this country. �ere is very little that can be achieved by a divided society.
�e second blow comes from the very act of protest in itself.
�e frequency of public protests has rendered them docile and less e�ective in raising public concern and garnering support.
�e greater majority, particularly those of us una�ected by these thorny issues, has become desensitised to protests. More importantly, the protests are perceived to be innocuous. Like the rants of a bitter loser, they are shrugged o� by those who should care. �is consequently gives rise to violent protests and acts such as those seen earlier this year when service delivery protesters threw human excrement on the N2 and other public areas.
�ese measures, dubbed “poo politics”, are the demonstrations of a desperate group of people who feel that a peaceful demonstration
is not enough. �ese “civil actions” cannot by any means be condoned but should be noted with the pertinent questions asked.
Have we come to a point where the nature of protests has been so paci�ed that only extreme measures will grab the desired attention? What do people do when all peaceful and legal avenues of protest have been taken and no resolution has been found?
We should be very concerned about the answers to these questions. It may not be “our” dilemma but it will be as much our concern if protests continue to lose their value.
I think that civil action is changing. It’s not becoming less of anything, but perhaps becoming more of something we might regret.
Popcorn protests The lady doth protest
Nothing free about freedom
It’s a searing image that seems unlikely to be eliminated from my
memory, even a year later, and rightly so. It’s not every day that you see your president with his family jewels exposed in a stance akin to that of communist r e v o l u t i o n a r y, Vladimir Lenin. �e painting by Brett Murray, entitled “�e Spear”, sparked a widespread public response with both approval and condemnation based on political and cultural sensitivities.
More than a year later, the president has once again made an appearance on the canvas of a South African artist. �is time he is fully clothed and not alone. Zuma is shown holding the leash of a dog threatening to attack a miner kneeling before him. He is accompanied by a matador holding the South African �ag in the act of stabbing the miner. �is image is set against the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth, Julius Malema and Cyril Ramaphosa while the ANC logo drips with blood.
�e painting by Ayanda Mabulu, entitled “Yakhal’inkomo – Black Man’s Cry” was banned by this year’s organisers of the Joburg Art Fair. �e ban was initiated for fear of stepping on the toes of those that sign the cheques and essentially allow for the event to take place. �e removal of Mabulu’s piece was short-lived and put back on display,
with fellow artists protesting against the decision of the organisers.
�e commitment displayed towards those that provide funding for art initiatives seems sensible: it would be unwise to question the hand that gives paint to the artist. �is comes at the expense of our artists’ control of their paintbrushes and to what extent they are able to use their work to comment and criticise issues fundamental to South Africa.
Unlike “�e Spear” that gave rise to the debate of freedom of expression facing barriers of censorship based on political interests and under the guise of African culture, “Yakhal’inkomo” has highlighted a deeper entrenched restriction to freedom of expression
– money. T h e
s i g n i f i c a n c e of freedom of expression as a right is lost with the sti�ing of artists, writers and
musicians who are the voices of victims of poverty and political upheavals. Furthermore, in�uence of sponsorship means freedom of expression is a privilege and not a right.
�e struggle towards achieving this right for all South Africans is no longer a question of race; this has seemingly been achieved. While the debate rages on regarding legal censorship, economic circumstances pose the immediate barriers to the work of those that view their right to express as a responsibility to the public.
A year a�er “�e Spear”, “Yakhal’inkomo” has shown there is no “freedom” in freedom of expression if sponsors are able to both directly and indirectly in�uence whether artwork is acceptable to be exhibited. �e right to freedom of expression becomes immaterial when economic circumstances determine what can and cannot be expressed through our pens and paintbrushes.
Image: �ickr.com/Meraj Chhaya
CANDIDATE ATTORNEYS FOR
WALKERS
Walkers wishes to appoint one or more candidate attorneys, as of January 2014.
Walkers is a Cape Town based mid-sized law �rm that practices law as a vocation, not just a business enterprise – since 1828. See our
website www.walkers.co.za for details
The idea behind social networking is
interaction, not abuse
students across all faculties end up
extending their degrees
Let us rather celebrate our di�erences together
over a �re
6 V72 E12 – 8 OCTOBER 2013 opinions
Siyabonga Nyezi
UCT Confessions, UCT Exposed, UCT Hook-ups and @UCTSNOB are a just few of the social networking platforms that have made headlines on campus in the past few months. Reactions to these anonymously run accounts have ranged from laughter to shock and disgust. I remember reading the �rst few posts on UCT Confessions and thinking: “People are so bored.”
I �nd most of these accounts pointless and simply a tool for people who aren’t excelling socially on campus to express their views, which are sometimes very strange. �ese pages have become increasingly popular ever since the creation of the UCT Confessions page on Facebook in May. Anonymous confessions range from having sex on campus to cheating in tests.
My short-lived visit to the page was enough to show me that anonymity gives people the power to say whatever it is they are thinking. As much as it might be a good platform to get to know what our peers really think, it also opens the door for slander, hate speech and all sorts of hogwash that people post on the Internet behind the guise of anonymity.
�e problem with these pages is
that access is not limited to the UCT community, allowing anyone to post a confession. It would be much better if we knew that these were really “UCT” confessions. It’s a way to be open and engage without being judged, but when people use that platform to lie and demean others on the basis of race and class, it becomes a problem.
While the comments were usually just LOLs and smiley faces, quite a few of these anonymous posts were distasteful as seemingly bitter people took the opportunity to strike back at those they do not like. �e most controversial one was the UCT Exposed blog, where a student’s poor results were posted, others fat-shamed and another called racist.
�is showed the dark side of social networking and how the internet can be used to hurt people. �e idea behind social networking is interaction, not abuse. When students use social networks for the latter, it defeats the entire purpose of engaging and connecting.
A new page, UCT Hook-ups, has also recently emerged. Here, students
Confessions of my character (Anti)social networking on campus
post descriptions of the kind of partner they want. It’s like a campus dating network. Some (myself included) �nd it disturbing, but I can imagine it is a heaven for people who do not mind meeting on the internet. If it brings people together in a safe way, then it’s a useful tool for interaction.
Not all these accounts are mean-spirited and slanderous. Quite o�en, @UCTSNOB and @WorstUCTStudent pop up on my Twitter feed with hilarious tweets that most students can relate to. �e humour is cheeky, and hardly o�ensive to the overly-sensitive. Accounts like this indicate we still have sensible people who know how to use social networks to engage with others on this campus. All these pages are examples of students using social networks to engage, but the anonymity allows it to be used for sinister purposes. More bad than good has come from these platforms. If people want to engage in an e�ective manner, they need to think before they post.
Tk Matsabu
My first existential crisis about my intelligence was sparked by a handful of Extended Degree students leaving the lecture hall to go to a di�erent talk about the framework of the humanities degree, while I stayed put with all the regular mainstream students.
Ignorant of what EDP actually meant, I thought I wasn’t part of the elite group of smart students who would end up getting a better quali�cation than me. However, this was quickly remedied by a smug remark from a guy sitting behind me saying, “Shame, those are the dumb kids.”
�e stigma attached to Extended Degrees is mostly founded on the fact that these students did not necessarily attain the required points to get into their degree of choice and are therefore labelled “dumb” compared to other students.
�e ignorance of mainstream
students across all faculties about what these programmes entail plays a critical part in the negative perceptions about the intellectual capacity of these extended degree students.
As quoted on the Commerce EDU (Educational Development Unit) website, the programme is aimed at students who have “experienced gaps and disparities in both education and life experiences”. For previously disadvantaged students who went to less than adequate schools, these programmes o�er an opportunity for them to achieve a degree of study on equal playing terms as other privileged students.
�ese educational mechanisms include extra tutorials, programme mentors and spreading out of courses over a one-year extended period, in addition to their degree of choice. �is is done to achieve the best results for the student. �e aim of the extended degree is clear, but what about students placed in the programme that went to Model C and private schools?
Not knowing what it is like to be in the EDP programme, I spoke to an EDP student from a middle class background in the Humanities faculty to gain perspective. He indicated the devastation he felt when being accepted into the Extended Degree Programme and his feelings on the extra assistance provided by the faculty that goes along with it.
“I feel like they treat us like we’re mentally disabled or something,” he said. �is sentiment, felt by this student and others alike, is linked to the structuring of the programme that EDP students undergo.
�e special attention given to Extended Degree students like extra workshops on computer literacy and the seemingly remedial courses like “�inking in the Social Sciences” contributes to the complexities felt by Extended Degree students about their intelligence. �ese courses carry the notion that they could be easily done by baby monkeys, contributing to the negative perception of EDP students by other mainstreamers and amongst themselves.
It’s interesting to note that many mainstream students across all faculties end up extending their degrees by a further year due to failing courses or degree changes. We all know people who are studying a bit longer than expected.
So does it really matter whether a student is mainstream or in the extended degree? At the end of the day, we all got accepted to the same institution and are working towards various degrees of study at one of the best universities in Africa.
Stigma of the extended
Tyra Overmeyer
The essence of Christmas has not been lost, even by those who use it as an excuse to exceed their alcohol limit. Although some may frown upon the ways in which others celebrate, judgmental glances shouldn't be given if the reason for celebrating is honourable.
Mathole Motshekga claims that Heritage Day has become another Christmas; the manner in which it is celebrated has become commercialised and based on people having "a jolly good time". Motshekga's comparison with Christmas highlights the fear of our heritage being forgotten among the celebrations that take place on Heritage Day.
September 24th has transitioned from Shaka Day to Heritage Day to Braai Day. From honouring the life of King Shaka, to �lling up mouths that water for braaied meat, this transition may appear to be undermining the importance of embracing our own
individual heritage, as braaing signi�es a collective South African identity. People fear that Heritage Day may digress from a celebration of heritage to a celebration of having the day o�. One tweet read: "Braai Day is a slap in the face of our e�orts to regain who we are."
Just as the importance of Christmas has not been forgotten, the signi�cance of Heritage Day will never be lost. Although culture and tradition cannot be forced upon everyone, those who hold their culture as a big part of their identity will not allow its value to descend into an advertisement for meat and charcoal.
South Africa is a nation that demonstrates cultural pride. It is a nation that proudly exudes the diversity of the Zulu citizens, the Ndebele citizens and the Venda citizens. It celebrates the Dutch citizens, the Xhosa citizens, the Portuguese descendants, the Cape Coloured citizens and the
Asian descendants. From this brief list, it is clear that South Africa has many historical attributions to embrace, such as the powerful Zulu Warriors and the Cape Coloureds' largest fusion of ancestry in the world.
Unfortunately, Heritage Day is only addressed to a select few, causing some citizens to feel that their heritage isn't deservingly acknowledged in South African history. �is exclusion creates a deep divide within South Africa.
Although Heritage Day rightfully embraces diverse culture, it separates and categorises South Africa's di�erent cultures, further deepening the divide which is already problematic in this nation. A solution to �lling the gap that distances South Africans from each other is to incorporate a common trait that we all share: a tradition that we all follow.
We all have a right to celebrate our own culture in ways that we �nd suitable. But, why not celebrate our diversity in one harmonising way
which all South African cultures and races are familiar with?
Braaing unites this nation across barriers of culture, language and
religion. It is a tradition that we all agree upon.
Next year on September 24th, let's not recognise our di�erences by separating ourselves from each other. Let us rather celebrate our di�erences together over a �re, South African style.
A �reproof heritage
Vikash Gajjar Deputy Opinions Editor
Evey Muslim is a terrorist.Since al-Shabaab’s terrorist attack in
Kenya, the general populace has ostracised the Muslim community. While the killing of innocent Kenyan citizens in the name of Islam is an atrocity, what remains tragic is the world’s reaction to these killings and, in turn, its perception of those of the Islamic faith.
For as long as I can remember, the majority of my friends have been Muslim - attending Friday Jumuah was once the norm. I’ve been a regular around the i�aar table and have annually delighted in the homemade biscuits hand-delivered by my next-door neighbour on Eid. �ese Muslim friends are
Eulogy to humanitynot terrorists, and neither is my Muslim neighbour.
Religion and politics are too o�en confused. �ere is little connection between terrorism and Islam. Rather, what terrorist attacks have in common is a secular political goal – either to reclaim what they believe to be their homeland or to gain political power through undemocratic means.
Although being a guide and steadfast source of inspiration to many, religion has served extremists with a rudimentary source of so-called reason for terrorist attacks. Religion allows for interpretation, and individual or group interpretation may not always conform to that of the entire faith.
Unfortunately, the blasé society that we inhabit shamelessly calls for conformity. Collective stereotypes have coerced us into categorising religion based on stereotypes and not on their actual features.
Maintaining that one stereotype applies to every individual of a collective is moronic, yet this is what so many members in our society have done. Today, I bow my head in sheer hope that my faith in humanity will one day be restored.
Image: �ickr.com/lonelysandwich
Image: �ickr.com/RichardAtUCT
7V72 E12 - 8 OCTOBER 2013opinions
Why I weep for BikoRamabina Mahapa
As I sit under the Marula Tree pondering the problems of
my beloved country, I cannot help but reflect on the passing of Bantu Stephen Biko. It is upon this reflection that I cannot help but weep.
My tears are not the result of his passing on, per se – I have already accepted that death is an undeniable fact of life – neither are my tears the result of the fact that he was tortured to the point of a coma.
Instead they are the tears for a vision unrealised, a mission not completed and the absence of a successor. When Biko died, he was not alone. The implementation of the Black Consciousness Philosophy (BCP) was still in its infancy and so he died impregnated with a dream unrealised. That is
why I weep for Biko.I weep because those he left
behind were not competent enough to continue the struggle of our mental emancipation. Individuals such as Barney Pityana and Mamphela Ramphele who
were involved in the development of the Black Consciousness still walk amongst us today; however, they have failed our people by not remaining committed to the implementation of the Black Consciousness in our newly formed democracy.
South Africa is on the brink of a moral crisis and the cracks are starting to emerge. It is seen in the Marikana massacre, the brutal rape and murder of Anene Booysen and the death of the defenceless Mozambican taxi driver at the hands of police officers.
These cracks are deepened with the rampant increase of teenagers becoming parents before their time and the number of public officials facing charges of corruption.
South Africans have not, as of yet, fully dealt with the past and our transition to a democratic society. And most, if not all, of the above mentioned atrocities are the result of past conditioning. Men are disposed to acting violently to their spouses, and we have lost our African pride. No more does a community raise a child, and no more does a child respect his elders.
What Biko stood for and died for was in vain, for his philosophy has turned to being something like a book which everybody admires, yet no one wants to open and apply
its contents. Black Consciousness has become a matter of academic analysis.
Biko is being quoted across the political spectrum from Ngoako Selamolela, Mamphele Ramphele, Helen Zille, and Jacob Zuma, yet no one wants to bring about what Biko stood for. They have turned Biko into a political trophy.
They call his name to arouse the
sense of loss that we incurred due to his departure which then inevitably makes people such as I weep for Biko.
How will posterity judge our generation? Will we be known as xenophobes, rapists and a generation of corrupt leaders? Will we be known as the generation that pursues self-enrichment instead of mental emancipation?
Will we be known as a generation that pursues material prosperity coupled with moral poverty?
I can only sit under the Marula Tree and weep, for our generation has betrayed its mandate and its people. We need Black Consciousness now more than ever before.
They have turned Biko into a political trophy
Those he left behind were not competent
enough to continue the struggle
Response to WhyVote2014 addressAn open letter to Lorne Hallendor� and Anton Taylor
The boycott of the vote is a deliberate
political act
I consider you both to be signi� cant persons among the student body of UCT at present.
I heard each of you share your views on voting at the Soap Box dialogue hosted by InkuluFreeHeid in collaboration with the SRC on � ursday, October 3rd. I wish to respond to your equally unsettling sentiments by way of this letter.
You both spoke to the kind of message which students who refuse to participate in elections are sending. � ese sentiments were expressed without a representative of those against whom you lodged your criticism, while at the same time celebrating the virtues of democracy. If you believe in democracy, as you have made clear, then it would be reasonable for you to allow those who do not vote the option of expressing this personal freedom through their act of abstinence, without making claims on their behalf.
� e boycott of the vote is a deliberate political act, regardless of its passivity, which should be celebrated by the freedom you claim that democracy ensures.
Secondly, the liberal democracy model which we experience in this country is a construct of Western modernity. � e model becomes highly problematic when imposed
on a former colony such as this one. A claim to the value of participation in such a model is negligent when devoid of proper consideration of this imposition.
In response to Lorne: � e message that is sent through the boycott is precisely to show the illegitimacy of the current state – where despite voting, large majorities of people remain in squalor. So it is a message which speaks to a high degree of concern, not the lack thereof (as you suggested), that the
boycott sends.In response to
Anton: the logic that those who do not vote are s imultaneously denied the right
to express complaint displays a remarkable lack of insight. People participate (and die) in service delivery protests because their human rights are denied – this depravity a� ects those who vote and those who abstain alike. Are you suggesting that those who boycott the vote should be deterred from claiming their humanity?
Another form of democracy is possible; one where people do not just participate in the public spectacle of voting and subsequently remain in abject poverty.
Ziyana LateganStudent
The Varsity CollectiveNews Opinions Features Sports Centrespread Edition 12
Est 1942 varsitynewspaper.co.za
2013 VARSITY Collective Alex NagelEditor-in-Chiefaka Victoria Nagel/Mother Unicorn
One of the most � erce and driven members on the collective, Alex
has fearlessly and courageously led VARSITY to victory this year. Her gutsy yet graceful demeanour has ensured that VARSITY has tackled issues that are prevalent. Always sticking up for what she believes in and a loyal comrade until the end, Alex is a true role model to every aspiring journalist. Her unique love of unicorns and constant referral to the collective as her children, Alex has been an Editor-in-Chief that no one will ever forget and that all are proud to say they worked alongside. All hail Mother Unicorn.
Rebecca DallasDeputy Editor
Despite insisting she is a gangster from the hoods of Plumstead,
Rebecca is caring and thoughtful and has provided the collective with many smiles and laughter throughout the year. Described as the Editor’s pillow for always providing Alex with a so� landing, Rebecca has never once been heard raising her voice, frowning or arguing. One of the sweetest and funniest girls you will ever meet, “Rebecky” has her ducks in a row and has even been seen with her textbooks in plastic sleeves just to keep them clean.
Andrew MontandonManaging Editor
No one can pull o� second hand blazers like Andrew can. With
his cool persona and mystical air of being the most intelligent person you will ever meet, Andrew has kept the collective second-guessing with his sarcastic (or serious – no one actually knows) remarks throughout the year. Constantly knowing what is happening, Andrew is someone who would always help you out when you were stuck. Along with his red Doc Martens, quirky personality and “fun” hair; the question still remains: is he clever or just really posh?
Mitch PrinslooOnline Editor
Known for his very eloquent writing style, curly hair and glasses;
Mitch’s cheerful disposition will always bring a smile to your face. Described as a “thinking man”, Mitch only opens his mouth a� er much consideration (or to eat whole slabs of chocolate as he has done on numerous occasions). Mitch has been VARSITY’s cyber trooper. An intelligent and humble young man, Mitch’s thoughtful character and incredible ability to pout like no other will be sorely missed.
Laurie ScarboroughCopy Editor
Lover of Glee, grammar Nazi, Harry Potter’s biggest fan and our new
Mommy, this year Laurie has been the stage light that has shone on every character in the collective, making them gleam with perfection. A little bundle of dynamite, Laurie has the tendency to screech while throwing her arms into the air or burst out into a musical number. Constantly doing things thoroughly and properly, e� ciency is an understatement for Laurie. She even has tazers named a� er her, that’s how famous she is.
Lynne Marie FraserDeputy Features Editor
VARSITY’s nature girl, vegetarian and resident blonde. Despite her
very incriminating Facebook history and constantly � nding herself in weird situations that involve lemons, brooms, tiger onesies, and interesting haired boys, Lynne’s down-to-earth attitude, kind-heart and ability to laugh at herself has been a highlight to
many in the VARSITY o� ce. Solving all issues with a cup (or ten) of strong black co� ee, Lynne’s high-pitched laugh lights up the o� ce as well as those around her. If laughter really is the best medicine, you’ll never be get sick around Lynne.
Rob ByrneSports Editor
Rob insists he was born on a little island no one can ever remember
the name of, but we don’t care. He has a British accent and that is all that matters. Rob’s forthright attitude and high standards have o� en le� the rest of the collective in awe (or fear, in some cas-es). Despite the lack of turnout of sports writers at News Gathering, Rob never failed to describe the Sports section in every possible detail. Known to write almost the entire VARSITY Sports sec-tions and pull girls when wearing his Varsity Football jacket, Rob has to be
the best (looking) writer and editor on the collective.
Megan KinnairdDeputy Sports Editor
Zim ex-pat, Megan is a very chilled-out, fun girl o� en found scroll-
ing through Google images of cute cats, seductive cats, grumpy cats, � y-ing cats, dressed-up cats or cats in boxes. For Megs, each new day seems to bring a new meme, a new cat or a
Krysia GawedaNews Editor
Resident tennis star and taller than any of the guys on the Collective,
Krysia is the sweetest person that you
will ever have the privilege of meeting. With a name that no one can spell and a smile like no one else, this Polish girl de� nitely has some serious style. With her love for dubstep and her cat, Oscar, along with her rebellious nature, Krysia can be described as a little crazy. But that is to be expected, a� er working alongside Chris for the entire year.
Chris van der WesthuyzenDeputy “News Desk Guy”
Despite sporting a mop of shaggy hair and beanie, never be fooled
by Chris’ “chilled-out-surfer-dude” look, this guy is as sharp as they come. Known to dance a wonderful co� ee jig when pulling all nighters in the VARSITY o� ce, Chris provided a source of entertainment with his nearly-retired-65-year-old-receptionist impressions. He took the liberty of providing the news section with its very own imaginary “News Desk”. Mysteriously, Chris was always seen arriving in the o� ce at the same time as Krysia. Apparently they “live really close” to one another.
Katy ScottOpinions Editor
If there was anyone to watch out for in the collective, it was Katy.
� is French-loving, Xhosa-speaking, in-disguise-ranga ballerina secretly knew everything about everyone on VARSITY. She thus took the liberty of compiling slide shows of embarrassing pictures of collective members to “boost morale”. Besides that, she has managed to deal with multiple stalkers throughout the year like a lady. Her mischievous nature o� en spilt into her bi-weekly columns creating the naughtiest and best columns to date – a VARSITY must-read.
Uthman QuickDeputy Opinions Editor
Always greeted with, “Manny! Long time no see!” Despite his
physical absence, Manny’s literary appearance has been present in nearly every VARSITY edition. With the ability to � ght his point home and always adding something interesting to the conversation, this “old man” has proved his worth this year. Described as the “crux” of the opinions section, along with his cool and calm persona, great editing skills and writing, Manny has been a large asset to the VARSITY team.
Daniël GeldenhuysFeatures and VARSITY Style Editor in Chief
With an intense passion for fashion, Daniël is best known for creat-
ing VARSITY’s � rst-ever Style supple-ment. Witty, creative and extremely hardworking, Danzies could always be found in the corner of the o� ce on the beloved Apple Mac. With an endless source of Mean Girls and Glee quotes, a deep hatred for leggings and love for all hilarious things on the internet, Daniël has a way of even making the most mundane things entertaining. Lighting up the o� ce with his colourful cloth-ing and contagious laugh, Daniël is one of the most talented, professional and dedicated members of the collective.
VARSITY 2013: End of term for 2013 Collective. After a year � lled with many laughs and priceless memories, the time has come to hand in our keys and clean our pigeon holes.
The Varsity CollectiveNews Opinions Features Sports Centrespread Tuesday, October 8th
@varsitynews varsitynewspaper Volume 72
2013 VARSITY Collective
new LOL. Constantly hungry and al-ways happy, this multitasker/procras-tinator and budding Rugby writer is a cougar inspiration to us all. As they say, she likes her boy’s young and her food rich.
Zarmeen GhoorCentrespread Editor
De� nitely the sweetest and most humble member on the collective,
although once you get to know her you
soon realise she has a wicked sense of humour to match. With an amazing passion for journalism, and nocturnal tendencies, Zarmeen has been seen working late into the night single-handedly cra� ing each magni� cent VARSITY centerspread this year.
Tebesutfu NkambuleImages Editor
Hands down, Tebe has the best style on the collective. Armed with her
camera and quirky smile, Tebe is a girl
on a mission providing VARSITY with professional and unique images. Despite being very well-spoken, Tebe is known to drop in a little slang every now and then just to keep things real. With her “dope” fashion sense, “dope” photographs and “dope” personality, Tebe has everything going for her.
Jessica BreakeyImages Deputy Editor
Our resident politician and human rights activist. � is girl will be the
Imaad IsaacsFinance and Advertising Manager
Once Imaad starts chatting, you either need to leave immediately
or accept the fact that you will be late for your class. With his infectious grin and great beard, he is easy to engage with. His organisational and institutional knowledge know no bounds and if you ever need something done, Imaad is your guy. Despite being constantly busy with only-he-knows-what, Imaad never fails to ask how you are doing. With contacts in high places and � ngers in every pie possible – he has mad skills and is probably secretly planning to take over the world.
Salman GhoorDeputy Advertising Manager
Famous for being Zarmeen’s younger brother, Salman was once
even confused as being related to Imaad, considering how closely he worked with him and how inseperable they were this year. Silent and serious, Salman comes across as extremely cool and collected.
Tanyaradzwa DzumbunuHuman Resources Manager
Mommy Tanzies. In charge of the happy o� ce dynamics as well
as saving the editor from quitting many times, Tanzies has ful� lled the HR stereotype � awlessly. But as all Mommy’s can be, Tanzies is quite scary too. O� en seen threatening to fake � re people to test boundaries, Tanya constantly challenged the collective to go above and beyond what was expected. With her heart of gold and laugh that � lls the room, Tanya kept the collective together and must be commended for her passion. And where would Tanzizzle be without some special cakes and Vaseline?
Kudzai TabazibaDeputy Human Resources Manager
Tanya’s right-hand girl. Super e� cient and go-getter, Kudzai’s
warm heart and caring soul makes her one of the most beautiful women around. Described as a teddy bear, Kudzai took the entire collective under her wing constantly being there to support and help us whenever in need.
Mwinji SiameOperations Manager
Mwinj has been a feisty member of the VARSITY Collective.
Very opinionated but in the best way possible, Mwinji is an independent women with a gorgeous face and � gure – otherwise own as the “O� ce Supermodel”. Her love for pizza and constant contribution to the collective Whatsapp group will never be forgotten. � e infamous phrase “Guys please distribute” will forever ring in our ears.
Vikash GajjarMarketing Manager
A late addition to the VARSITY family, Vikash quickly made
himself at home, winning over our hearts with his friendly and talkative nature. Always dressed to perfection, Vikash has a great love of commas, which, he, loves, to, use, arbitrarily. Vikash always has a sarcastically polite insult ready for any VARSITY haters. However, despite that cute face, do not be deceived by his innocence. “Twitter King” Vikash has been known to get his way, every time. He is also rumoured to star with Daniël in the newest High School Musical. Watch this space.
VARSITY 2013: End of term for 2013 Collective. After a year � lled with many laughs and priceless memories, the time has come to hand in our keys and clean our pigeon holes.
� rst female South African president for sure. Always motivating people to do something to transform the world, Jess is a � erce advocate for anything to do with people and rights. With a “rare Gatsby-like” smile that reaches her eyes causing them to twinkle, Jess has a rare ability to make you feel like you are the most beautiful person in the world. And this isn’t even commenting on her brilliant photography skills. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see her face on presidential posters in the near future. Jess for President!
Elelwani NetshifireDeputy Images Editor
Sweet and sincere, Elelwani has by far the most interesting accent on the
collective. Although a little quiet, when she does speak she has you in giggles. A creative force to be reck-oned with, Elelwani took fantastic pictures and was a great addition to the images team. Style reporter in the making, Elelwani is certainly going places.
Siyanda RalaneDeputy Images Editor
Fierce and fearless, Siyanda is the girl with sass. Forthright, funny, and an
all round stunner. With her mesmer-ising voice and constant change of brilliant hairs styles, Siyada is a force of nature when unleashed controlling every room that she walks into. Similar to Beyoncé, Siyanda is a true diva.
Stephen HulmeWeb Editor
The Boss of VARSITY’s own IT Crowd. Stephan is the website’s
heart and soul and without him we would be lost. Who knew that “Techie Genius” and “Ballroom Dancer” could � t into one sentence? Known for his unfaltering manners and “awe-inspiring” website slide shows � lled with VARSITY’s favourite things: Pie Charts. Stephen constantly supplied the collective with a tech shoulder to cry on, awesome dedicated web feedback as well as compulsory server watching sign-ups. A man of many talents and sure to be success in the making.
Robin MukanganiseDeputy Web Editor
With his strong passion for computers, Robin is the founder
and creator of VARSITY’s ever-� rst App – something we are all proud of. With great ideas and the skills to implement them, Robin’s physical being may not have always been seen within the VARSITY o� ce, but his presence will always remain.
Peter MalugeDeputy Web Editor
Peter may have the sweetest face and cutest smile, but he has mean
technical skills. Known to be one of the quietest collective members, yet most reliable, and even a� er an entire year of using the o� ce, Peter always knocks before entering.
Julien SpeyerDesign Editor
Our very own design guru. With his constant craving for nicotine and
GTA, Julien is much appreciated for his insightful comments about “energies” and original interview questions. With his chilled-out, yet funny and creative persona, Julien is one of the easiest people on the collective to work with. He is known to greet people in numerous languages and caused quite a lot of confusion when signing o� emails as both “Julien” and “Julian”.
Image: So� a Gilli
10 V72 E12– 8 OCTOBER 2013 features
Give peas a chance
is back! Read our exclusive interview with cover star Jimmy Nevis who wears local label 2Bop, get industry-insider advice for a career in fashion, and prepare your hair for Rihanna.
What better way to shop than browsing through our collections story shot on Table Mountain road? We’ve picked the best pieces from your favourite stores including Cotton On, TopShop and �e Lot. Our monochrome-meets-denim story shows you how to combine the two biggest trends of the season, and “Just Visiting” edits the most covetable new-season accessories.
Boss Models are in collaboration with VARSITY STYLE to provide mentoring for the models, photographers, and beauty teams who create the fashion pages. Sebastian Simons, a UCT postgrad who recently joined the Boss family, mentored VARSITY news sta� writer Sophie Robertson in our collections story.
It’s not just about the pictures: VARSITY food guru Cassidy Nydahl presents recipes inspired by the runway, Busang Senne and Daniël Geldenhuys decode the best new-season trends, Rob Byrne takes a trip to Wimbledon, and Barbara Fourie shows you how to amp up your living space.
Ready to get stylish then? Visit varsitynewspaper.co.za and click on VARSITY STYLE.
VARSITY STYLE
Image: �ickr.com/dansays
style
Clockwise from top right: Riaan Giani, Bert Pauw, Riaan Giani, Paris Brummer, Bert Pauw, Michael Goldsmid.
Text: Daniël Geldenhuys.
Lynne Marie Fraser
Oranjezicht City Farm (OZCF) draws you out of the
rows of concrete buildings and into beds of �ourishing vegetables. �is, South Africa’s �rst inner-city farm, is a vibrant and welcoming place. Sheryl Ozinsky is one of the leading individuals involved since the beginning of OZCF last year November. Sheryl is also the founder of the Oranjezicht Neighbourhood Watch and was the Head of Cape Town Tourism for many years. Her passion for the farm and its role in the community is clear, “Are we just growing carrots?” she asks. “No. We are kneeling in the soil together and learning to understand the possibilities in that soil. It is more than just farming – it is improving lives.”
OZCF began with the vision to transform an abandoned bowling green, a dilapidated hang-out for vagrants and criminals. Now, the image of neglect and degradation has dissipated completely, with the site’s rich history coming rapidly into focus. �is history stretches past the bowling green’s construction in the 1950s all the way back to 1709
when the then Oranje Zigt farm was established. �e farm supplied fresh fruit and vegetables to the growing settlement and colony and became the largest farm in the Upper Table Valley, occupied by the Van Breda family for seven generations. �e produce was sold in the cobbled yard and weighed on a scale hanging from an oak tree. �e original hooks for this scale still hang on the wall of the old barn where present-day locals come to buy fresh produce at the
regular OZCF Saturday market. �e market is growing rapidly,
and each week new people attend and then return the following week with their friends. And they’re always looking for new people to join in as volunteers or just to enjoy the atmosphere. On Saturday mornings you can be sure to �nd the regulars at their market stands selling organically grown veggies – many from OZCF itself. Lumai and Portia from Spoons and Spades take
up a position selling raw, sugar-free, gluten-free and wheat-free goodies. You’ll also �nd Gardener’s Glory Raw Garden Honey, collected from hives around Cape Town, and a delicious range of carob chocolates with almonds and Brazil nuts.
“Over time, we have lost important connections to water and food, to nourishment and health,” says Sheryl. Understanding where and how the food we eat is produced is a starting point in conserving
our critical resources and �ghting against waste. OZCF is an example to be replicated on the hundreds of other under-utilised public sites with the potential to serve as places that educate, feed and strengthen communities. Some public assets have already been identi�ed in Mowbray, Rosebank, Bokaap and Claremont. Sheryl encourages communities to come forward, insisting that the possibilities are endless.
Oranjezicht City Farm – �e �rst of its kind in South Africa
They’re always looking for new people to join
in as volunteers
Image: Lynne Marie Fraser
11V72 E12 - 8 OCTOBER 2013features
Busang Senne
Somehow, over the course of ten months at VARSITY – from
a young apprentice in training to the Deputy Features Editor 2014 – I’ve managed to condense every excursion, experience and naïve piece of wisdom into 400 to 450 words. But this tale, one of debauchery, shaved heads, blowing that last R5 on printing credits and getting lost in Leslie Social more times than I’m willing to admit, can hardly be done justice in less than a page.
First year. I had been waiting for this moment since the novelty of high school wore off about halfway through Grade 8. I waited painfully for the day where I could throw the rules and regulations of suburban life to the newly young-adult winds and “talk to people who know lots about lots”. Unlike Jenny from An Education, I took the end of high school to mean shaving my head, getting the septum of my nose pierced and doing anything else that would spite the lukewarm waters of my former adolescent life. I pictured drinking absinthe over pseudo-intellectual discussions on Jack Kerouac, I imagined bike rides and lying on the lawns without a hint of nostalgia.
What I didn’t know was that
such autonomy costs money and riding a bike from Clarinus to Upper Campus would surely mean suicide. And I read On The Road and hated it. UCT humbled me. As Spock once said to Kirk, “A stallion must first be broken to realise its full potential.” And first year will break you many, many times on your way to degree glory.
UCT is not how I imagined it four years ago at the tender age of 15, trailing completely star-struck behind my sister. The novelty does wear off. Three months of tyrannical rain and your tut attendance starts to dwindle, you’re living day to day on meal vouchers and before you know it you’re under the covers in your bedroom watching New Girl and wishing you had taken that gap year.
What would I say as I pass the baton of my first year experience to the freshers of 2014? Although I’ve made it sound a bit like boot camp, there are few moments quite as serendipitous as your first year. It’s not often that you get a chance to start again and be whoever you want to be. First year gave me that chance, and hopefully it gave others that chance as well.
Like The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy says in those big friendly words on the cover, simply, “Don’t panic”. Wear sunscreen. Meridian tuts are a thing, but
that doesn’t mean you have to do them. Speak to everyone and speak about everything. Leave prejudices at the door. Smile even when it’s raining. Collect these clichéd, Hallmark greeting card expressions in your arsenal, they come in handy when writing articles and impressing people.
The �rst-year spread The Fresher experience in words
Goodbye, Mr Nigel BakkerMr Bakker speaks to VARSITY about his years as a UCT student
And most importantly, there are no such things as neat boxes. There is only running down Long Street screaming at the top of your lungs, watching the sunrise on Jammie stairs with an 8am tut the next morning. But what do I know? I’m only a fresher.
Before you know it you’re under the covers
watching New Girl
UCT residence’s outreach campaign
Riyadh Karodia
Mr Nigel Bakker is a senior lecturer in the School of Education who received the Distinguished Teacher Award in 1988 at the University of Cape Town and is a popular personality at UCT. With the end of his time at UCT in sight as the year draws to a close, he re�ects on how it began.How did you feel as a �rst-year student at university?
I was absolutely terri�ed because in those days there was not the slightest support for �rst-year students. �ere was nothing like orientation. �at was very di erent, but otherwise it was essentially like today being a student. Did you �t in?
I was the personi�ed geek of the period. Everything that is geeky today stems from me. It was so di erent from school and so liberating. RAG was fun – I did get involved in RAG, although it was a far smaller event than it is today. I sold Sax Appeal as a �rst-year student. But I would race home by bus or train and sit and work all day and probably all weekend as well.What in�uenced you to study?
My desire from a very early age was to be a school-teacher. When I completed my honours, I did a teacher’s diploma and worked as a junior lecturer in the English department for a year; then I went to school-teaching for seven years, until I decided that I wanted to come back here.And what did you and other students wear in those days?
Well, that was the ’70s. Everybody was blazing with colour. I had huge bright red bell-bottoms and �oral shirts and long hair. �e women would wear long ca�an gowns with masses of beads and �owers in their hair. �e campus was ablaze with colour.What types of novels and magazines did you read?
I must have read hundreds of books, plays and poems. Catch 22
was one of the big novels in the early ’70s. Everybody had read Lord of the Rings. A lot of American literature was very popular at the time. Magazines – they’ve all gone. �ey were absolutely terrible.What did you watch?
�ere wasn’t any television in those days, but you watched sport. You went to Newlands, which was full, for the Ikeys-Maties rugby match. You watched a lot of cricket and rugby. You went to movies and listened to the radio. Music on the radio was very important. Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, used to have this very popular pop-music radio station that everybody used to tune in to. It was the glitter stu , and then it became fairly heavy metal. And then there were all those nice squeaky-clean fellows who sang pretty songs for when you fell in love.What do think are the most signi�cant changes between then and now?
Students today are far more serious about their work. �e quality of the work is far better than I remember from my undergraduate days. It’s also a lot more expensive to be here. �ere are very many more students. And the great joy is that it is completely non-racial. But I wish they’d wear bright colours. Otherwise in many ways nothing much has changed. �e biggest change is de�nitely electronics.What advice would you give students?
I would recommend strongly that students enjoy the social life at UCT. �e friends you make at university are the friends you make for life. I think it’s also important to – oh dear, this sounds corny – work as hard as you possibly can!What happens a�er UCT?
When I retire, I am going to stop working. �is is going to be a time of leisure and relaxation. I’m going to do all the things I’ve been afraid to do up to now; I’m going to learn to be a lazy, idle bum. People tell me I’ll get bored doing this before long. Clearly, they haven’t tried hard enough. Work is terribly overrated. And I’ve had enough of it.
Sam Voigt
After the “Enough is Enough” protest earlier this year, Leo Marquard’s Head Student 2013 Lungisa Ntobela says he was inspired to shi� the responsibility from the shoulders of just the female residences to include the male residences as well. He believes men should also take a stand against violent crime, speci�cally against women, as has been the focus at UCT throughout this year.
�is is why Leo Marquard Hall created the Marquard Cares campaign. It began as an attempt to show solidarity in the �ght against gender-based crime. �e campaign was geared towards collecting funds and clothes for the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children. Ntobela drove the project alongside Sam Voigt, Tokologo Phetla and Khumo Mampuru. �e campaign ran from the beginning of August and continued throughout Women’s Month. Originally the aim was just to collect funds for the Saartjie Baartman home, but the Marquad residents soon realised students were more willing and
able to donate clothing and give their time instead.
So the campaign adopted a two-phase strategy, with the �rst phase focused on collecting clothes for the children in the home. �e second phase of the campaign saw UCT students from both Leo Marquard Hall and Graça Machel Hall heading out to the Center to begin a re-painting project. Ntobela says he was completely overwhelmed by the support from both residence students and the external companies that were willing to donate towards the campaign, for example, all paint was donated and Turfworks assisted by sending through lawnmowers in an attempt to maintain the premises at the Centre.
�ose of us involved really enjoyed ourselves and learnt a lot from visiting the Centre and the surrounding community. �e hope now is that more sustainable outreach initiatives like this will be built within the residence systems in the future. �e potential that lies within the residence system to give back to our community is unlimited and the success of Marquard Cares is just a glimpse of the possibilities of this.
Image: So�a Gilli
the UCT student body is not the UCT Pigeon’s
greatest threat
12 V72 E12 – 8 OCTOBER 2013 features
Cassidy Nydahl
It's all over the place. I usually ignore it with a roll of the eyes and � ip of the page to something more buttery and � oury. If you're going to bake, why skimp on the good stu� , right? But I have to acknowledge those poor gluten-intolerant souls. I'm lucky to be able to eat � our and dairy and all other evil ingredients. Because they taste good. Fact.
I believe that you can't write something o� before you try it, though. While pouring over my old Taste magazines I came across a recipe for interesting looking little cookies and my pantry happened to ful� l all the ingredient requirements. � e � our is replaced by ground almonds, which I had in abundance due to my HAVE-to-conquer-the-macaron phase (In case you were wondering, I did conquer it – although sometimes it conquered me, sigh).
I was feeling creative, so to the original recipe I added some chopped up candied ginger. You can get small cubes of candied ginger from good baking stores – I got mine from � e Baking Tin in Kenilworth, Cape Town. � ey make the cookies a little sweeter and add a little spice. All in all, I must admit that gluten-and-dairy-free can be amazingly delicious. Maybe I'll try a few more of these kinds of recipes in the future!
Ingredients: 250g ground almonds75g light brown sugar1Tbsp honey1Tbsp orange/grapefruit zest1/4 cup egg whites1/2 cup chopped up candied ginger
(entirely optional, but amazing)Icing sugar, for dusting
Method:Preheat the oven to 180°C.Mix together all the ingredients in a
bowl until it is well mixed and forms a dough (this is easiest done with your hands)Roll a bite-sized piece of dough into a ball, and place on a tray lined with baking paper. Press down with a fork.Bake in oven on middle rack for around 10 minutes, or until golden.Remove from oven and cool on a cooling rack, then dust with icing sugar.
(For this and other recipes visit www.servewithtea.wordpress.com)
Cassidy’s sweet parting gift“Totally healthy!" "Gluten-free!" "Dairy-free!"
Diana Fletcher
(Please be advised that this article is best read in David Attenborough’s voice).
On the wind-swept pathways of the Mountain Campus known as the University of Cape Town exists a species of bird so strange and diabolical that you would think that it might have a more eccentric name. I am of course referring to the UCT Pigeon.
The Birdus annoyus has inhabited the U n i v e r s i t y ’ s grounds since the construction of Jameson Steps in 1928. While their population has always been of a prominent size, their formation of large organised flocks in the last few years has been attributed to the increase of bake sales and stressed students.
The UCT Pigeon looks remarkably similar to the common pigeon, except for its eyes. The common pigeon typically has irises of an orange hue, but the UCT Pigeon boasts irises of a striking, demonic red. The UCT Pigeon employs its eyes as part of its hunting technique, making and holding eye contact with a student and frightening that student into handing over his or her food.
The UCT Pigeon is an incredibly versatile bird when it comes to feeding. It does not limit itself to the pigeon stereotype of nuts, seeds and fruits, but rather is a culinary virtuoso, dabbling in muffins, sandwiches, chocolates and even the occasional wrap or salad.
Their preferred hunting grounds are the locally-named “Jammie Steps” and “Food Court”.
Despite popular student, belief the UCT student body is not
the UCT Pigeon’s greatest threat (although the Pigeons do hold a vendetta against the UCT student who anonymously confessed to killing one with his economics file). Instead, the UCT Pigeons’ greatest enemy is the Red-winged starling. No one is entirely sure where these birds originate from, all that is known is that they are bigger and faster and live to make the UCT Pigeons and students’ lives a scene from Hitchcock’s The Birds. Preferring to hunt
in packs of four, the starling’s f a v o u r i t e method of attack is to dive-bomb students who are eating while walking,
causing untold trauma to those who must watch the starlings fly off with their Budget Roll and depriving the patient, trailing pigeons of their lunchtime meal too.
This animosity between the UCT Pigeon and starling tribes has reached such feather-ruffling heights that both sides have resorted to guerrilla tactics.
Small parties of Starlings have often been observed launching dive and fly attacks, swooping into quiet pigeon gatherings and stealing the pigeons’ food. The pigeons in turn have executed small ambushes on lone and unsuspecting starlings, much to the amusement of the UCT students who dislike both species with equal fervour.
But despite their dishevelled appearance, manic eyes and annoying perseverance, the UCT Pigeon is a part of campus life. They watch over the students and their food from the lofty heights of the library building, cleaning up the leftovers and often protecting the students from the evil starlings. They are UCT’s cooing watchmen.
Zesty Almond and Ginger Cookies (gluten-free)(Adapted from the Taste magazine)
The Winged Watchmen
Image: So� a Gilli
Image: Cassidy Nydahl
13v72 e12 – 8 october 2013advertisement
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UltimateLast weekend the UCT Ultimate Club participated in the second largest mixed Ultimate tournament in South Africa, Rocktober 2013, which was held in Johannesburg this year. � e club sent their 1st team squad, the Flying Tigers, and four members who will play in a combined UCT/Stellenbosch team. � e Flying Tigers hoped to continue their fantastic record this year so far, given their second overall placing in the Summer League and their third placement in the National Championships. � e team will look to bring the Rocktober trophy home, from their fourth seed placement, based on last year’s Rocktober standings. � e team’s progress can be tracked on the Rocktober website.
NetballThe UCT Netball ladies took on TUT on Monday, September 30th, in their � rst home game of the Varsity Netball tournament. � e match was extremely close throughout as both teams gave it everything, however, UCT succumbed to defeat at 35-43. Both teams came into the game having lost all of their previous games, and thus both UCT and TUT had nothing to lose. By
the end of the � rst half, TUT had a signi� cant lead as the scoreboard read 13-21. � e game gained momentum, however, in the third quarter with UCT coming back onto the court in full force. � e home-side doubled their e orts and managed to catch up with the TUT team, ending o the third quarter with a 28-29 score, TUT barely maintaining their lead. � e fourth quarter kept the crowd on the edge of their seats as it seemed the game was close to a draw. Unfortunately, in the last three minutes the UCT team lost momentum and TUT took advantage of their lag in energy. � e � nal score
read 35-43, with TUT winning the game. A� er the game, captain Asanga Mehana told VARSITY, “It was disappointing to have lost on home territory, however, our spirits will still remain high – we will encounter TUT again and we will walk away knowing our faults and knowing what to do next time. We have three tough games ahead and that is our focus now. � ank you to all for the support from people who came through to watch the game. It was spectacular and, honestly, a humbling experience.”
Contributions: Eleanor Shadwell, Aisha Abdool Karim, Megan Kinnaird
Quaid Tatchell
ULTIMATELY EXALTANT: UCT Ultimate looked to claim victory in Johannesburg over the weekend.
ROCKY START: Ferguson's disappointments early on in his time at United give hope for Moyes yet.
Image: Rob Byrne
"From the moment I got to Manchester United, I thought of only one thing: building a football club. I wanted to build right from the bottom. � e � rst thought of 99% of newly appointed managers is to make sure they win – to survive."
Sound familiar? It should. � ese are the words of one of the most successful managers in the history of British football: Sir Alex Ferguson.
Given United’s recent 4-1 loss to local rivals Manchester City and their 2-1 loss against West Bromwich Albion, many supporters are beginning to doubt the appointment of Ferguson’s current successor, David Moyes.
What many may not know is that Ferguson, like Moyes, also had a few tough years a� er taking the reins at United in 1986. During the 1989/1990 season, the side was performing poorly in all competitions. Matters really started to heat up a� er a run of six defeats and two draws in eight games. Sounding awfully familiar to United’s recent misfortunes, one of these came in the form of a 5-1 thrashing by Manchester City in September 1989.
It wasn't too long a� er this that United supporters were calling for his head on a silver platter, with a particularly memorable banner declaring: “� ree years of excuses and it's still crap...ta-ra Fergie." Unsurprisingly, many journalists
and fans alike were expecting his “voluntary” resignation; preparing themselves for yet another managerial casualty.
However, unlike today's o� en � ckle football hierarchy, the United board made the decision to stick by their man, believing that he was the one to lead the club. In that same season, Sir Alex Ferguson picked up his � rst piece of silverware for the club in the form of the FA cup, followed by a league title the following year.
Building the foundation of any football club is no easy feat. It requires patience, understanding and faith in the individual entrusted with the position. Moyes himself received a sterling recommendation from Ferguson
for the position, on a long term contract no less.
In a recent US television i n t e r v i e w following the successive losses,
Ferguson was quoted as saying, “[h]e was my choice to succeed me and I’m still absolutely behind him 100 percent […] [T]he club will also give their full support and he will be just � ne. United [is] in good hands.” And given the side’s 1-1 draw to Shakhtar Donestsk in the UEFA Champions League last week, not all hope has been lost for the new manager.
United may be sitting in an unattractive position in the Premier league log but, as is usual with silver linings, Moyes, with time and patience, may still be the man to continue Sir Alex Ferguson's impressive legacy at the club.
Image: � ickr.com/minquangle87
FIXTURES
Sport AMA 20/20SATURDAY OCTOBER 12th,
2PMWPCC FIELD B
1A-RO3 vs WWC
VARSITY NETBALL TOURNAMENT
MONDAY OCTOBER 14th, 6PM
UCT SPORTS CENTRE
UCT vs TUKS
Mark Nandi
Meet Asanga Mehana, full-time student and captain of the
UCT Netball team. VARSITY recently caught up with the proli� c captain to � nd out about her experience thus far in the sport, as well as UCT’s participation in the Varsity Netball Tournament. Mehana, who is in her � nal year studying BSc Hons in Geomatics, joined UCT from Hudson Park High School. She has been instrumental to the team, adding vast amounts of experience gained from playing in the SA U-19 squad in 2006 and representing Western Province on the netball front.
When did you start playing netball?
In grade 1: I was watching the older U-9 girls play at school. � ey were missing a Goal Shooter (GS) during their practice and they asked me to � ll in. I played a match with them the next day and I’ve never looked back.
Did you ever see yourself captaining a varsity squad?
I honestly did not but I am not surprised as I have always had leadership roles growing up. I captained most of my sport teams both locally and provincially while in high school. However, I am humbled by the fact that people see me as a leader outside of my home town and feel extremely honoured to have captained the UCT 1st team for the years that I have.
Can you give some insight to your � rst ever netball match?
I was 7 and when my time � nally came I felt more than ready. I remember running around dressed in my sister’s oversized netball kit with new white Tommy takkies, wanting to catch every second ball.
Varsity Netball; how signi� cant was the invite for UCT?
HUGE! We were ranked tenth at USSA games and only the top eight teams quali� ed to participate. Two teams could not participate, however, and when our Sports Coordinator Jonathan Stones asked me whether we would like to, we duly agreed! � is is exactly what the team and the club needed. � e exposure has been amazing and the support from UCT has been tremendous. Having won the Western Province league this year, the opportunity couldn’t come at a better time than this when our 1st team players have matured in
Mehana: UCT has nothing to lose
the game.
How is UCT coping with the tournament so far?
So far we’ve travelled to Port Elizabeth for three games, and played once at home. Yes, we’ve lost all of our games, but boy have we put up a � ght! We’ve been improving with every game and that has been our goal. Our game vs NMMU was our toughest, mentally and physically, however, I do believe that this will help is in the tougher games vs UP, Pukke and Kovsies. We have nothing to lose and we know it, which makes us more excited to play and hopefully cause an upset.
You play for Western Province as well, how is the competitive level there?
Extremely competitive. You not only have to beat the other team but you have to � ght to stay in the team. � ere is no room for complacency whatsoever. 100% e� ort is required ALL the time, whether its practice or during a game.
How did you feel when you were called up to play for Western Province?
I was injured for six weeks this year and that set me back quite a bit as I missed the second and � nal round of trials. I obviously went in there hoping to be in the best team but instead I was “reserved” a spot in the C-side. I was disheartened at � rst but I embraced my plight. My team was awesome; we
did the best out of all the WP teams at nationals, losing only one game and coming fourth overall. I eventually captained the team and was moved to play Wing Defence (WD) - completely out of my comfort zone as Goal Attack, but I felt con� dent and satis� ed with how I played at the end.
Do you have any ambitions to play netball on a professional level?
YES! I have recently been selected to play for the Ladies A-side Super League Action netball team this year. Hopefully I will try out for WP there and launch my professional [netball] career.
Who or what motivates you before you play a match?
I would say my team mates and myself. My team mates are such awesome people and I am like their older sister hence I make sure I don’t disappoint them.
Would you say the balance between varsity and netball is hard to maintain?
De� nitely. To be successful at both requires a lot of discipline, time management and frankly motivation. � ere aren’t any shortcuts and the two, at UCT, do clash quite o� en. Tests run into practice time, practice time runs into study time. With less study time we’d have more game time and hence be a top netball university. However, at the end of the day it is totally worth the e� ort plus I do enjoy the best of both worlds.
Who will dominate this year’s Sports Awards?
Western Province Championships early this year. Sweeney has also been nominated in the Performance of the Year category along with the surf team, men’s 1st team waterpolo and women’s 1st VIII rowing team, all for their winning performances in the USSA tournament earlier this year. � e Team of the Year category sees the ladies’ chess team, women’s 1st VIII rowing team and the men’s 1st team waterpolo nominated.
In the Best First Year category, Fortuna Bakula has been nominated for netball; Mohamed Bhawoodien has been nominated for chess; Kyle Jacobs has been nominated for badminton, and Ladon McClure has been nominated for fencing.
Praising the developmental aspect of sports clubs at UCT the Transformation/Development Trophy sees Paula Tully recommended for hockey, Sarah Bishop recommended for Rowing and the Mountain and Ski club also recommended for their performance.
Megan Kinnaird
On Friday October 11th, the UCT Sports Council will be holding their annual Sports Awards Dinner at the Kelvin Grove Sports Club. � e awards ceremony will kick-o� at 7pm and promises to be as exciting as ever, with various sporting teams and players vying for coveted accolades in this prestigious event.
� e Sports Person of the Year award sees Nicholas Groom nominated for his performance in the Stormers and Western Province rugby teams; Alexandra Fuller nominated for her performance in the � nal of the SA Women’s National Squash Championship; South African water skier, Tyron Stroberg; and � nally, UCT’s “golden boy” in the swimming pool, Ayrton Sweeny, nominated for his performance in the Senior All African Championships and
TEAM PLAYER: Asanga Mehana is a vital player in UCT's team for the Varsity Netball tournament.
FIGHTING ON: UCT's Netball ladies are determined to give it all they've got week after week.
Image:s Lloyd Kammies
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